All for the birds

Sunflowers get quite a special treatment in the garden.

It start in spring when they begin to grow. And they grow as they please and where they please. If they choose to pop in a very unsuitable place, like middle of the path, they get gently transplanted to a place where they will not be disturbed. Some end up in a flower garden, some will decorate edges of the veggie part of the garden.





And then they grow, branch and bloom with their gigantic flowers. I think the flowers are the main reason my mum likes them so much and makes sure there is always some in the garden (no, it's not for the birds on purpose, they just happen benefit from it too).

Other flowers after they are done blooming are trimmed or removed. But not Mr Sunflower. This giant is left alone. And it is a true giant! They reach 2m tall and with their large leaves and multiple large flowers they take quite a bit of space. All good - they stay.





They will slowly start to dry and the delicious seeds mature. And this when the hungry birds come in.
Nope, we do not pick all the heads. Most is left there for birdies to munch on :)





I could not catch any, but I could hear them. And a soon as I was getting closer they would fly away in a speed of light.
Sparrows, Great tits, Blue tits and probably some other too dine there every day.

And while feast goes on some seeds will drop and survive in the ground covered by leaves and dead plants till spring. Then they will pop on their own and the whole cycle starts all over again.





There is few of large plants with multiple heads spread out throughout the garden and they all look the same. The seeds slowly disappear and on the ground there is a pile of shells.

On some there is nothing left...

Worry not - in winter, when it gets cold and snowy, birds will get something to eat anyway.





And as I was admiring the crafty work of the small birds, one Starling was watching me from the neighbouring building. There is quite a lot of them in Poland this year too. Plenty of fruits and bugs too eat so they breed like crazy.